Alchemy is the "specialist" magic system in Darklands. Unless a character is generated with high Intelligence and a reasonable amount of Alchemical skill (at least 25-35), learning sufficienc Alchemy to be useful is very difficult.
Calculating Alchemical Success
The chance of alchemical success comes from a formula printed across the top of the "Creating Potions" screen and is explained briefly on page 42 of the manual. The formula is:
% chance of success = k + Ps + Int + Alch + Mn
Where k is a constant, ps is the Philosopher's Stone quality, Int is Intelligence, Alch is alchemy skill and Mn is the formula's Magic number (noted as "Difficulty"). The maximum chance of success is 99%.
The constant "k" is normally 100. However, if you are making for or more potions, it is reduced depending on how many potions you wish to
make. Therefore, unless you're extremely good and the formula is extremely easy, your best chance comes with making three (or fewer)
potions per person per day.
This formula could be stated another way, i.e.: if Pstone plus intelligence plus alchemy skill equal or exceed the magic number, creation is
virtually automatic (well, 99%, the highest possible). However, if Pstone plus intelligence plus alchemy is less than the magic number,
the difference is your chance of failure.
For example, if Pstone is 20, intelligence 35, and alchemy 50, your total is 105. You'll have a 99% chance of success making any potion whose
magic number is 105 or less. However, attempting LM's Truesight (magic number of 120) will only produce 85% chance of success (difference
between 120 and 105 is 15, so there will be a 15% chance of failure, and thus an 85% chance of success). Formulas whose magic number is 205 or
greater will be impossible, since the chance of success will be zero or less.
With sufficient searching and funds, you can probably acquire a Philosopher's stone of quality 20 to 25. Eventually you'll get the best possible Pstone and improve alchemy skill to 99. At that point, high intelligence determines what you can produce with minimum risk. This is why high intelligence can be so important to an alchemist. In fact, unless you've got significant saintly aid, Breath of Death and Transformation are risky formulas because no ordinary humans can reach sufficient intelligence to produce 99% chance of success.
Calculating Alchemical Success
The chance of alchemical success comes from a formula printed across the top of the "Creating Potions" screen and is explained briefly on page 42 of the manual. The formula is:Where k is a constant, ps is the Philosopher's Stone quality, Int is Intelligence, Alch is alchemy skill and Mn is the formula's Magic number (noted as "Difficulty"). The maximum chance of success is 99%.
The constant "k" is normally 100. However, if you are making for or more potions, it is reduced depending on how many potions you wish to
make. Therefore, unless you're extremely good and the formula is extremely easy, your best chance comes with making three (or fewer)
potions per person per day.
This formula could be stated another way, i.e.: if Pstone plus intelligence plus alchemy skill equal or exceed the magic number, creation is
virtually automatic (well, 99%, the highest possible). However, if Pstone plus intelligence plus alchemy is less than the magic number,
the difference is your chance of failure.
For example, if Pstone is 20, intelligence 35, and alchemy 50, your total is 105. You'll have a 99% chance of success making any potion whose
magic number is 105 or less. However, attempting LM's Truesight (magic number of 120) will only produce 85% chance of success (difference
between 120 and 105 is 15, so there will be a 15% chance of failure, and thus an 85% chance of success). Formulas whose magic number is 205 or
greater will be impossible, since the chance of success will be zero or less.
With sufficient searching and funds, you can probably acquire a Philosopher's stone of quality 20 to 25. Eventually you'll get the best possible Pstone and improve alchemy skill to 99. At that point, high intelligence determines what you can produce with minimum risk. This is why high intelligence can be so important to an alchemist. In fact, unless you've got significant saintly aid, Breath of Death and Transformation are risky formulas because no ordinary humans can reach sufficient intelligence to produce 99% chance of success.
Potions
Components